Philadelphia, PA – (10/22/2009) – Mercy College got a quick advantage taking the first, two games from Chestnut Hill College 25-11 and 25-13, respectively. The Griffins managed to hold the Mavericks to a .250 (11K-3E-32TA) hitting percentage in the third game, but the play of junior middle hitter Shedeiky Hamilton (Yallahs, Jamaica) and senior outside hitter Diana Buzzone (Guayaquil, Ecuador) carried the Mavericks to a 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-19) win.

Hamilton scored six kills and Buzzone spotted two aces in the opening game to direct Mercy College (4-20) to a 25-11 win and a 1-0 lead. As play continued, Hamilton was consistent and accurate; she scored five kills in each of the final two games and finished the night with a .387 (16K-4E-31TA) hitting percentage. After dropping game two 25-13, Chestnut Hill College (4-21) slowed the Mavericks in the third game. The Griffins held a 16-11 lead on Mercy College until Buzzone took the serve. She rallied the Mavericks to an 18-17 lead before they won the game 25-19. Hamilton finished with 16 kills. Buzzone collected 16 digs in addition to her two aces. Sophomore setter Bridgette Pennelle (Hawthorne, N.Y.) fueled the Maverick offense with 22 assists and chipped in defensively with ten digs.

Freshman middle hitter Cassie Benson (Rosamond, CA ) and freshman setter Courtney Gallo (Wilmington, DE ) combined to lead the Griffin offense. Benson totaled a team high five kills while Gallo supplied 14 assists. Off the serve, the Griffins received three aces from sophomore defensive specialist Alyssa Miller (East Stroudsburg, PA). Defensively, freshman specialist Bobbie Chukuntarod (San Francisco, CA ) and freshman libero Elisabeth DiGregorio (Conshohocken, PA ) combined for 23 digs. Benson made two blocks.

The women's volleyball team will resume their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) schedule when they host the University of the Sciences on Tuesday, October 27, with a 7:00 p.m.

Mercy College def. Chestnut Hill Coll. 25-11,25-13,25-19

Site: Philadelphia, PA (Sorgenti) Date: Oct 22, 2009   Attend: 55   Time: 1:01 Referees: Dave Lockwood, Marty Lang

  Mercy College (4-20) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Hamilton, Shedeiky 16-1-1; Zufelt, Ashley 9-2-0; Ward, Crasheena 5-0-2; Bruzzone, Diana 4-2-0; Phillips, Kassandra 4-0-2; Hurley, Marissa 1-0-0; Pennelle, Bridgette 1-1-1; Totals 40-6-4.0. (Assists) - Pennelle, Bridgette 22. (Dig leaders) - Bruzzone, Diana 16; Pennelle, Bridgette 10

  Chestnut Hill Coll. (4-21) (Kills-aces-blocks) - BENSON, Cassie 5-0-2; NADLER, Megan 4-0-0; ZAWADZKI, Linda 3-0-0; QUARLES, Cheryl 3-0-1; CORRADO, Nicole 1-1-0; MILLER, Alyssa 1-3-0; DiGREGORIO, Elisabet 1-1-0; GALLO, Courtney 0-1-0; Totals 18-6-2.0. (Assists) - GALLO, Courtney 14. (Dig leaders) - DiGREGORIO, Elisabet 13; CHUKUNTAROD, Bobbie 10